Student-centered learning means guiding students toward mastery by customizing instruction in response to students’ individual strengths, needs, and interests. Every high school student brings individual assets to their learning, along with challenges from prior experiences.

Student-centered learning requires deep and respectful relationships between students and teachers—and, in many cases, parents and other family members. The role of the teacher shifts from disseminator of information to facilitator or coach, as teachers guide students to take ownership of their own learning journeys.

For students, student-centered learning usually means more choice about when and where to learn, more projects and authentic tasks, and more collaborative work with peers. A student-centered framework also accommodates learning in real-world settings—through work experiences, internships, community projects, and service learning.